Petunia plant named ‘WNPETMVSS23’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPETMVSS23’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; single-type flowers that are reddish purple in color; and excellent container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WNPETMVSS23’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘WNPETMVSS23’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Bonsall, California and Tyler, Texas. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous,freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early andfreely flowering habit, attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventors on Oct. 15, 2019 in Bonsall, California of a proprietaryselection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number PS001*001, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPetunia X hybrida identified as code number 17PB276-01, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Tyler, Texas on Oct. 5, 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Tyler, Texas sinceOct. 12, 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘WNPETMVSS23’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘WNPETMVSS23’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually        trailing and decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Single-type flowers that are reddish purple in color.    -   6. Excellent container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are shorter and denser than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are not as vigorous as plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in        color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection        are pinkish purple in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in        color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are        bluish purple in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘USTUN2401M’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,664. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of‘USTUN2401M’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than and not as        spreading as plants of ‘USTUN2401M’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        ‘USTUN2401M’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in        color whereas flowers of plants of ‘USTUN2401M’ are hot pink in        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘WNPETMVSS23’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘WNPETMVSS23’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 740-mlcontainers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carlton, Michigan andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18C to32C and night temperatures ranged from 18C to 24C. Plants were pinchedtwo weeks after planting and were five weeks from planting rootedcuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘WNPETMVSS23’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number PS001*001, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number 17PB276-01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at            ambient temperatures about 28C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at            ambient temperatures about 20C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three or four            weeks at ambient temperatures about 28C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four to five            weeks at ambient temperatures about 20C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding to eventually trailing and decumbent plant habit;            freely branching habit with about eight to twelve primary            lateral branches with secondary laterals developing            potentially at every node, dense and bushy plant form;            pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous            growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 13.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 24 cm by 27 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.25 mm to 1.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm to 1.5 cm.            Strength: Strong; flexible, not brittle. Aspect: Initially            arching upwardly and eventually trailing. Texture and            luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,            developing and developed: Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after            flowers develop; leaves simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic with obovate tendencies.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly            pubescent, pubescence, minute; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            146A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            146A to 146B. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close            to 147A; venation, close to between 146A and 147A. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146A to 146B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm to            3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong, flexible. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single terminal and            axillary salverform flowers; flowers face mostly upward to            slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 75            developing flowers and open flowers per plant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long            flowering period, plants flower from early spring until            frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this            period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about            four weeks after planting rooted young plants.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Depending on temperature,            about one to two weeks; petals not persistent, and sepals,            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds, before showing petal color.—Length: About 8 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and            luster: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, developing            sepals: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.3 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3.4 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Tube diameter, distally.—About 7.5 mm.        -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 1 mm to 1.25 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a            single salverform in whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):            About 1.6 cm to 1.8 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.4 cm to            1.6 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal lobe            apex: Acute. Petal lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Petal lobe texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy; irridescent. Petal lobe            texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous along            the venation; matte to slightly glossy. Throat texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Tube texture            and luster: Moderately to densely pubescent; matte to            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to NN74A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 75A. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to NN74A; primary venation,            close to NN78A, and lateral venation, close to NN74A; color            becoming closer to N78A with subsequent development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 75A variably tinged with            close to NN78A; primary venation, close to 148A, and lateral            venation, close to 75A variably tinged with close to NN78A;            color becoming closer to 77B to 77C with subsequent            development. Flower throat (inside): Close to N75A variably            tinged with close to NN78A; venation, close to N78A. Flower            tube (outside): Close to 77A; venation, close to 148A tinged            with close to 77A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a            single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.3 cm to            1.5 cm. Calyx diameter: About 3 mm to 3.5 mm. Length: About            1.3 cm to 1.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Linear.            Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Sparsely to moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully developed,            upper surface: Close to between 144A and 146A. When opening            and fully developed, lower surface: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 1.75 cm. Width: About            2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong; wiry and            flexible, not brittle. Angle: About 30 to 45 degrees from            the stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five. Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color: Close            to 145C to 145D. Anther length: About 1.25 mm. Anther shape:            Bi-lobed. Anther color: Close to 94B. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 91A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Style length: About            1.4 cm. Style color: Distally, close to 145A, and            proximally, close to 145C. Stigma diameter: Less than 1 mm.            Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 148A. Ovary            color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development has            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Petunia plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have excellent garden performance and have been observed to tolerate    rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1C to about 35C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘WNPETMVSS23’ as illustrated and described. 